8 Reasons to Take Up the Game of Golf

Golf is often perceived as an exclusive sport with its own culture and language, which can make it feel elitist or unwelcoming.  Yet, while the sport is deeply rooted in history and traditions, today's golf scene is getting with the times like never before.  In fact, golf will present you with such unbelievable and personal shared experiences that the only fear you'll have is the fear of missing out.

Here's 8 reasons why you should take up the game of golf:

It's All About Connections

• Golf is a relationship game.  Every angle of the sport is rooted in relationships, both personal and business.  Your time spent in and around the game allows you to make connections and foster relationships through shared experiences that you wouldn't otherwise make.

 No More "Grass Ceiling"

•  Tired of being excluded from the informal networks your colleagues are building on the course and then leveraging for career advancement?  Get in the game!  You'll break down those barriers and build a network for a lifetime.

Fitness

• If you watch modern golf, you'll notice that many of today's stars on tour are physically fit and in shape.  Golf is a great way to burn off extra calories and who wouldn't love to do that?  You'll burn approximately 2,000 calories during an 18 hole round of golf (while walking and carrying your clubs) or even 1,300 calories when riding in a golf cart while playing.

The Great Outdoors

• In this hi-tech generation of being chained to our mobile devices while doing more with less at the office, who couldn't use a little more time outside in the fresh air?  Spending more time outdoors can do wonders for your mind, body and spirit.

Fashion

• Forget about the starchy, boxy and tacky golf shirts of days gone by.  Cute, fashion-forward, sexy, professional, sporty; whatever look you're going for on the golf course, the fashion world is your oyster in golf.

Quality Time with Your Significant Other and Family

• Golf is such a special sport to share with a spouse, partner or family.  You'll leave the world behind and be together, uninterrupted in a beautiful setting where nothing else matters.  Fun and closeness are sure to result.  Don't fret if you currently don't have a significant other, many happy couples are known to have met on the golf course. ;)

Travel

• See the world!  Golf travel can take you to stunning locations all around our planet.

That 'One Shot'

• There's no way to do justice to describing the feeling of pure exhilaration you'll experience the first time you make flush contact with that little white ball.  There's really nothing like it.  You can do it...and you'll never forget it!  Believe me, it will keep you coming back to the game you love.

Are you ready to start?

www.rahimgulam.com

AUR Golf Spring 2015 Collection

AUR Golf, an active golfsport brand targeted towards the golfer who wants authentic golf apparel with a distinct look and feel, announces it Spring 2015 golf collections.

The design ethos at AUR Golf is one that emphasizes a refined modern aesthetic by utilizing technical fabrics in a more sophisticated form. Their authentic design is inspired by the active nature of the sport combined with awareness for the environment in which it is played. AUR Golf was created to celebrate the game of golf and provide all golfers with the confidence to perform and look their best.

"The AUR Golf brand continues to grow at a rapid pace," says Mark Fletcher, President - Fletcher Sport Brands. " From Canada to Germany, to the United States and Spain, golf professionals and consumers looking for authentic golfsport apparel with a distinct modern aesthetic are turning to AUR Golf as their golf apparel brand of choice."

The Spring 2015 Collection from AUR Golf features bold and dynamic color-blocking paired along side sophisticated and elegant geometric prints. Such dramatic colours as Sonic Green, Sunglo Yellow and Rowan Red highlight the season's color palette for men and Kiss Pink and Malibu Green for women. Additionally, this season sees the introduction of AUR Golf's Active-Dry™, Active-Stretch™, Active-Cool™ and Active-Warm™ fabric ranges.

Collection Highlights – Men’s:     

The Triumphant Collection, consisting of colors: Sunglo Yellow, Neptune Blue and White, launches the brand into the new season with a design and color palette that is fresh and stimulating. The feature style from this collection is the Sparwood Polo. Constructed from AUR's proprietary Active-Stretch™ fabric, this style features premium moisture wicking technology as well as 4-way stretch for enhanced freedom of movement and comfort.

The additional men's collections include: the Rapture Collection, consisting of colors: Rowan Red, Nightfall Navy and White and the Frequency Collection consisting of colors: Sonic Green, Black and White.
 
Collection Highlights - Women's:

The Luminance Collection, consisting of colors: Black and White, is a remarkably simple yet striking collection. The collection is elevated through the use of metallic silver and black enamel trims. The feature style from this collection is the Bentley Polo. This style features an athletic, yet sophisticated racer-back design, with contrast placket and The Luminance Collection's signature black enamel buttons. Constructed from AUR's proprietary Active-Cool™ fabric, this polo is lightweight, breathable and provides excellent UV-protection, making it the perfect polo for those hot and humid summer days.

The additional women's collections include: The Europhia Collection, consisting of colors: Kiss Pink, Nightfall Navy and White and the Bliss Collection, consisting of Malibu Green, Nightfall Navy, Shoreline Blue and White.

www.aurgolf.com

Review of the Upcoming Golf Movie "The Squeeze"

I've never done a movie review before, so here's my first crack at my role of being Gene Siskel.  I recently watched a new movie titled "The Squeeze" which was written, directed and produced by 7-time Emmy award winner Terry Jastrow.  The movie is based on a true story. It tells a story of a modest young man with exceptional golf skills who gets caught up in big time gambling matches in which the stakes get bigger and bigger until they become life or death.

The Squeeze stars Jeremy Sumpter (Peter Pan and Friday Night Lights), Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore and Requiem for a Dream), Jillian Murray (Never Back Down and Cougar Hunting), Katherine LaNasa (The Campaign and Alfie) and Michael Nouri (Flashdance and The Proposal).  

The Story

When Augie Baccas (Jeremy Sumpter), a common man of uncommon skills, living in a small rural town, wins his one day City Golf Championship by 15 shots breaking his own course record, a dapper Southern gentleman gambler, Riverboat (Chris McDonald) and his over-the-top bejeweled wife, Jessie (Katherine LaNasa) who are driving cross country from Mississippi to Las Vegas hear of this uncommonly gifted young golfer on local radio. They turn off the highway and head for the local muni course to find young Augie and convince him to abandon his dreams of qualifying for the US Open and come play for Riverboat in high-stake gambling matches.

Angering his long time girlfriend Natalie (Jillian Murray) beyond words as she watches him abandon his dreams and compromise his integrity, Augie continues to use his uncommon talent to win higher and higher stakes matches until they’re finally run out of town and head for Las Vegas. Playing for even higher stakes, Augie finds himself pitted against notorious Vegas gambler Jimmy Diamonds (Michael Nouri) who has known connections to the mob. Augie continues to win every match until Jimmy Diamonds, fed up with the scam, breaks into Augie’s hotel room and informs him if he doesn’t lose the next day’s million dollar match he’ll end up at the bottom of a swimming pool wearing lead boots. Fearing for his life, Augie attempts to escape but is discovered by a very angry Riverboat who counters with a similar fate. Win or lose, he’s dead.

Thumbs Up or Down?

I've watched many golf movies before and I can honestly say that this has been the best one so far.  It's a fun movie that tells an interesting story and has you pushing for Augie the whole way through.  The actors in the movie can actually play golf...and play it well.  Since it's based on a true story, The Squeeze gives you a good insight into golf and big time gambling.  I give this movie two thumbs up and I highly recommend it for golf enthusiasts or for anyone who's looking for an entertaining and realistic movie. 

The Squeeze will be available on DVD and video on demand on June 9th.  I highly suggest you take some time to sit down and be entertained for 95 minutes (plus, Jillian Murray is easy on the eyes).

The Golf Etiquette Quick Reference Guide - Something Every Golfer Should Own

Have you ever played a round of golf with a "golf virgin" (someone who's never been out on a golf course before)?  Were you frustrated the entire day when he/she stepped in your line on the green, took forever to get set up for a shot, never stayed quiet when others were hitting, had no idea whatsoever about the rules of golf...and so on?  I'm sure it's happened to all of us at one time or another and it truly puts added stress on your own game (not that you don't have enough to worry about on the golf course already).

Wouldn't it be nice if there was some sort of a book or simple guide that people could read before heading out on the golf course for the first time?  Well, now there is!  It's called Golf Etiquette Quick Reference - A Golfer's Guide to Correct Conduct.

This book only costs $12.95 USD, but I consider it priceless!  The following excerpt is from the Introduction and explains exactly what this book is about:

Some people may be asking, "Why would I need a book about correct conduct?  I know how to behave myself."  Although integrity and fairness are an excellent basis, good manners alone are not enough in golf.  A certain amount of specific knowledge is essential, especially in the light of the dangers involved in this sport.  Furthermore, golf also involves social conventions that are not based directly on accepted behaviour patterns.  The etiquette is just as important as the rules of play and it ensures that all players can enjoy their game as much as possible.
This book does not claim to cover every single issue but it does contain everything you need to know in order to be welcomed at virtually every course in the world. 

The author of this book, Yves C. Ton-That, has really made this a user-friendly guide encompassing everything from how to prepare at home before the round in terms of clothing and equipment, when to show up to the golf course, how to warm up and how to greet fellow players.  Each section is tabbed so it's easy to flip to.  The guide takes you through every aspect of your golf round and even lets you know what to do after your round at the infamous 19th hole.  How perfect is that?!

Not only is this guide great for newbies, but I think anyone who plays golf at all (even seasoned veterans) should take the time to read through the book.  The guide is small enough that you can tuck it into your golf bag and have access to it anytime (so you can show it to a newbie out on the course).  It contains invaluable information in terms of safety and first aid procedures as well as how to formulate an acceptance speech after winning a golf tournament.  Wouldn't we all like to be as eloquent as Jordan Spieth when thanking everyone after winning the Masters?

If you know of someone who's thinking about taking up golf, purchase a copy of this book as a gift and I'm sure they'll appreciate it (and so will everyone they end up playing with).

Review of the SUNICE Halifax Pullover Jacket

A little while back I received a package from SUNICE containing their Halifax Flexvent^TM Full Stretch 1/2 Zip Waterproof Pullover.  The jacket comes in three colour schemes and I was sent the midnight blue / charcoal / pure white version of the product to test out.  This pullover is part of the SUNICE Tornado Collection and, at first glance, it's a great looking jacket which I couldn't wait to put to use.


I've owned several pullovers from other manufacturers, but when I put the Halifax on for the first time, it definitely felt different.  What I mean is that I didn't feel restricted in my movement yet the jacket didn't feel like it was moving around much when I raised my arms or attempted a golf swing.  Living in Vancouver, BC, Canada allows me to play golf pretty much all year round (if time permits), but it also means that it can be cold and wet at times.  I've never been a big fan of wearing a jacket when I golf as they always seem somewhat restrictive or the sleeves move up and down whenever I make a swing.  Instead, I layer my clothes and wear an outer shell (like a pullover) to keep me dry.  This can be a bit of a hassle sometimes when it gets warm during a round and I have to peel off layers in order to stay cool.  Also, depending on how cold it is, the increased number of layers can be a bit restrictive on the golf swing.  To date, I haven't been able to find a jacket with the perfect balance between comfort, warmth and 'playability'.

So it's 6 degrees Celsius outside on a cloudy day and I'm at home getting ready for my round of golf that morning.  I decide to put the SUNICE Halifax pullover to the test and I put on a long sleeve t-shirt, a golf shirt and my new midnight blue pullover, courtesy of the folks at SUNICE.  I'm hoping that this will keep me warm enough through my round as it's only supposed to get up to a high of 8 degrees throughout the day.  I head to the driving range at the Riverway Golf Course in order to warm up for my round.  Immediately, I notice some of the great features of this pullover such as the Pro Trim™ Waist Cinching System (which allows the jacket to hug your waist) and the adjustable velcro self fabric cuff tabs (which prevent the sleeves from moving up and down your arm when you swing).  I can tell the designers of this product over at SUNICE have done their best to pay extra attention to detail with the golfer in mind.  After my warm-up session at the driving range and practice green, I head over to the first tee, eager to get my round started.  When I put my hand in the right pocket of my pullover to put some tees in, I notice something in the pocket.  It's a ball cleaner shammy...what a great idea!  Now I don't have to use my pant leg to wipe any dirt off my ball when putting.

For the next 4 1/2 hours, I plugged my way through 18 holes and never once did I feel uncomfortable, restricted, too hot or too cold.  The temperature that day got to a whopping 8 degrees Celsius, but I never had to peel off any layers even though it can get warm (even on a cold day) since I always walk the course and carry my golf bag.  Another big plus...my pants didn't have any dirt or grass stains from cleaning my golf ball since I had that handy little shammy tucked away in my jacket pocket!

The Halifax passed the test on a cold day, but how would it perform on  a warmer day when it's windy outside, but not quite warm enough to just wear a golf shirt with no jacket?  Well, I had to find out so I waited until a nice spring day when it was sunny and the temperature was 12 degrees Celsius.  I was simply wearing a short-sleeve golf shirt and my SUNICE Halifax pullover that day as it was a bit windy and I would've been too cold just wearing a golf shirt.  As usual, I walked the course and carried my bag, but never had to peel off the jacket even though the temperature got up to 15 degrees Celsius during my round.  The wind blew pretty hard at times, but I wasn't affected by flapping sleeves or the bottom of the jacket feeling like it's blowing back and forth while I'm standing over the ball getting ready to take a shot.  You know how annoying that can be as you get in your stance as it adds another thing to throw off your concentration when making a swing.  This jacket really hugs your body well and is quite breathable so you don't get overheated.

The only drawback I found with the Halifax pullover was with the main zipper.  For some reason, I can't get the zipper to sit properly as the handle has a tendency to not stay down all the time.  I find this a bit frustrating as I have to keep pushing the handle down and it can be a bit annoying at times.  Not a big deal, as I'm guessing this isn't always the case and not a dealbreaker for me.  All in all, I think that this is a great product and I would highly recommend this jacket to anyone who wants a high quality product which keeps you protected from the elements and still allows you to perform at your best.

The suggested retail price for the SUNICE Halifax pullover is $209.95 USD and can be found on Amazon.com. 
           
Here's the details of the SUNICE Halifax pullover from the manufacturer's website:

HALIFAX

Tornado collection

SKU: S21000 - Color Code: 318504

• HIGH PERFORMANCE

• ULTRA-BREATHABLE LAMINATE ULTRA QUIET AND SOFT HAND FEEL

• FULL STRETCH PULLOVER

• STRETCH TRICOT LINING

• PRO TRIM™ WAIST CINCHING SYSTEM

• BALL CLEANER SHAMMY IN RIGHT SIDE POCKET

• CLOSE-TO-THE-BODY FIT

• EXPOSED WATERPROOF YKK VISLON ZIPPER WITH LOCK DOWN PULLER

• SIDE ENTRY ZIPPER

• LYCRA ACTION CUFF TABS

• ADJUSTABLE VELCRO SELF FABRIC CUFF TABS

• ADJUSTABLE BUNGEE AT HEM

• CONTOURED TOP COLLAR FOR ULTIMATE COMFORT AND PROTECTION

• SUNICE DOUBLE BAR PATENTED V COLLAR WITH NEOPRENE FINISH

• SUPER WXTECHTM COATING

• 20,000MM / 20,000MVT

• 4  YEAR WATERPROOF WARRANTY